Trail – The Honda Africa Twin could be declined in a smaller displacement – Used HONDA

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The Honda Africa Twin could be available in a smaller displacement

Trail - The Honda Africa Twin could be declined in a smaller displacement - Used HONDA

Honda could expand its range of trail bikes with a new mid-displacement Africa Twin, in addition to the current CRF1000L. The Japanese manufacturer, on the other hand, remains closed to the idea of ​​a rise in power in 1200 or 1300 cc.

Encouraged by the success of its, Honda would develop a declination of smaller displacement (from 650 to 800 cc) which would compete with the BMW, Suzuki and other Triumphs. This new bike would take the successful line of the current 999 cc CRF1000L, its engine architecture – an in-line twin – and its off-road facilities..

  • MNC Presentation : Africa Twin 2018 catches fleas
  • MNC presentation : New Africa Twin Adventure Sports

"When it comes to pure adventure, we don’t have such a wide range," Kenji Morita, Africa Twin project manager, told our colleagues at. "This is why we are considering launching a mid-size model to attract young people. We will develop this bike, although it is not something that we are currently working on.".

Trail - The Honda Africa Twin could be declined in a smaller displacement - Used HONDA

At Honda, the trail range already covers a very wide spectrum: from the small CRF250L to the Crosstourer 1200 road maxitrail via the CB500X and the NC750X, not to mention the unclassifiable X-ADV based on an Integra scooter, nor the Crossrunner designed from VFR800 ! 

But as the Japanese leader points out, none of his motorcycles has this adventurous dimension which is largely at the origin of the success of the Africa Twin. A replica with a smaller format would fill this – relative – void, in addition to making vibrate the nostalgic cord by referring to the first Africa "XRV" of 650 then 750 cc !

A more accessible Africa Twin, tailored for A2 licenses

The other interest of this "small" Africa Twin would go through better accessibility, both in terms of handling – despite a loss of 2.3 kg in 2018, the Africa Twin remains a "beautiful baby" of 230 kg in mechanical box – only from an economic point of view: the 2017 model starts at € 13,700 without the DCT, which is – too much – a tidy sum for most young bikers.

Trail - The Honda Africa Twin could be declined in a smaller displacement - Used HONDA

Another advantage for the new licenses: this potential Africa Twin 650/800 will certainly be available in, a feature that is curiously lacking in the current Africa Twin while its power of 95 hp would make it eligible for the probationary license now compulsory for all.

  • MNC of June 7, 2016 : A2 motorcycle license compulsory for all future bikers !

Remember that motorcycles whose original performance does not exceed 95 hp can be restricted to 35 kW (47.5 hp) to come under the. KTM does not deprive itself of it with its, available in "Full" version at 95 hp and in "Low Power" limited to 47.5 hp! Conversely, BMW cannot offer a R1200GS "A2" since its "fleet-flat" develops 125 hp..

The only recourse used by certain manufacturers, such as Kawasaki with its: develop a specific version limited to 95 hp when the original power exceeds the fateful threshold. An expensive and complex process, because it amounts to having two motorcycles in the catalog.

Smaller (displacement), yes. Bigger, no !

Asked about the possibility of increasing the cubic capacity of the Africa Twin to better compete with maxitrails such as the 1170 cc reference or the overkill 1300 cc KTM, Kenji Morita gave our British colleagues the same answer as that given by Honda when we discovered the CRF1000L in 2016 in South Africa.

  • MNC test : 
  • Comparo MNC : Africa Twin DCT Vs Tiger 800 XCX Vs R1200GS
  • Comparo MNC : Africa Twin Vs Multistrada 950 Vs V-Strom 1000

“In terms of pure power, it’s true that some of our rivals are offering more,” admitted Kenji Morita, “but that’s not the route we wanted to go. Our goal was to have the right amount of power. necessary to meet the needs in real conditions ".

Trail - The Honda Africa Twin could be declined in a smaller displacement - Used HONDA

"It’s easy to increase the power, but by doing that you lose the balance we wanted because the bike would be heavier", he continues … passing a little quickly on the fact that Honda does not hesitate. not to gentrify the of its bestseller with additional assistance and a new version, whose increased road capacities make it take 13 kg (243 kg in manual gearbox) !

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